I also made a list “Top 10 Differences Between Hard Rock And Heavy Metal”.

Hard Rock and Heavy Metal are different but similar - one of the reasons metal fans usually like hard rock, too.

The Top Ten

Use the same basic instruments

Electric guitars, bass, drums and sometimes a keyboard instrument (hence - similar sound). If you don’t know that hard rock is blues based and metal - classical based, you can easily confuse these 2 genres. - Metal_Treasure

When I got into METAL/(Hard)RockI used to be confused.They used the same basic instr.BUT AcDc plays TNT,is considered as HR-Band and were called Heavy Metalback in the days.

And Metallica plays Nothing Else Mattersand is called a Thr.-Band.

I know it sounds stupid but it just blewmy mind that I liked Metal.

Both are heavier than classic rock

Some classic rock bands are hard rock bands

Both are louder than classic rock

Aerosmith and AC/DC are certainly louder than The Beatles. Metal is louder, too. - Metal_Treasure

Both are faster than classic rock

Both are more aggressive than classic rock

Both genres emerged in parallel in the 1960s-70s

In this regard Deep Purple is a very unique early band - they experimented in both genres. They wrote faster and heavier songs based on classical (metal) and songs based on blues (hard rock). - Metal_Treasure

Have the same number of band members

Usually 4-5 members. - Metal_Treasure

Singers in both genres scream more than singers in classic rock

Screams in metal are part of the artform and singers’ vocal skills. There are even Top Ten lists about the best and longest screams in metal. But Steven Tyler and Robert Plant are hard rock singers who also scream a lot. Ian Gillan of Deep Purple is known for his crafted screams on both metal and hard rock songs. - Metal_Treasure

Guitar solos are longer than in classic rock

You can have complex guitar solos in Hard Rock, they're not really like metal guitar solos, but if you look at the right guitarists, there is some gold. - JoLeKosovo

agree

Musicians usually have long hair

Lol true.~Kat

The Contenders

Both have distorted guitar riffs

Yep. The distrtion is quite similar in general. - JoLeKosovo

Vocal style is more aggressive than in classic rock

Lyrics actually have a meaning

This is not really a good item some lyrics from hard rock or metal are not meaningful and some from other genres are also things like long hair and leather are kind of silly. If a bands members don't do this it does not make the band any less a metal or hard rock band.

It's pretty nice how much thoughtsare given to the lyrics. Here's a tip:Just don't listen to the magical musicwhich is given you also take the booklet&read the lyrics. They are most of thetime well thought.

From "the visitor"

Some musicians in both genres wear leather clothes

In metal Judas Priest and Manowar are the most typical cases. I don’t think Metallica, Megadeth and Iron Maiden can be associated with that. Currently I listen to metal bands that never wore leather. Probably things in metal changed a lot since the 70s-80s. - Metal_Treasure

Same opinion.Metallica was more into denim.Early Slayer into leather.

Both are subgenres of rock music

Both genres often have a breakdown

No. Breakdowns are only in some metal subgenres. - JoLeKosovo

Both use thick picks (plectrums)

Usually from 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm. I started with 0.8 mm pick. And it seemed quite thick to me, moved back to.67 mm pick. The fact is that thinner picks sound more gentle than thicker picks. Maybe that the reason why a lot of hard rock and heavy metal guitarists use thick picks. - zxm

Both have huge controversy regarding classification

What qualifies as "Hard Rock"? What qualifies as "Metal"? Was Nirvana Hard Rock? Was Motorhead metal? What was the first metal song? Is The Who an early Hard Rock band? Where do we draw the line? Is there overlapping?

I think Metal_Treasure will have to agree that both genre spark long-drawn arguments when you try to categorize a band. It seems to be something that definitely matters to you. - JoLeKosovo

Yes but is Grunge Hard Rock? And is Motorhead actually qualifiable as a punk band? Or should we say Hard Rock? - JoLeKosovo